Written By Kieran Bugg
David Tennant revealed what convinced him to return to Doctor Who for its 60th anniversary.
Once fans heard that David Tennant was coming back to Doctor Who, they rejoiced. After all, after Tom Baker, many consider Tennant’s tenth Doctor the best incarnation of the character. Moreover, people often vote for him as among the best TV characters of the 21st century.
However, Tennant will only reprise the role for the show’s approaching 60th anniversary. In addition, fan favorite companions Catherine Tate and the late Bernard Cribbins join him for the special.
During a recent interview with the BBC, Tennant revealed what convinced him to come back. It turns out his return came about due to Doctor Who watchalongs that occurred during the pandemic.
David Tennant Reveals Why He Returned To Doctor Who
Image: BBC
These were organized by fans on Twitter with stars of the show often participating.
The actor said:
It all slightly happened a little bit by accident, the Doctor Who Lockdown watchalongs is where this all started. At a certain time and day everyone would press play on a certain episode and some of the people who had been involved in those episodes were tweeting along. I don’t tweet but my wife helped me.
Furthermore, he also explained that after the watchalongs he contacted Tate and former show runner Russell T Davies. They would ponder doing another episode together until Davies revealed to them that he was returning as show runner. He then asked the duo if they like to do it and the rest is history.
David Tennant Reveals Why He Returned To Doctor Who
Image: BBC
Tennant continued:
We were just having a text exchange and Catherine said, ‘wouldn’t it be fun to do it again?’ Russell said, ‘We could do a one off, maybe they’d let us’. We said, ‘yeah that would be a laugh,’ and then it all went quiet. Suddenly Russell let us know that he was taking over the show again and he would be back fully in charge and would we come and play a little bit for him? So I don’t know if we gave him the idea to take Doctor Who back but certainly we thought if he’s doing it, we can’t let these young people have all the fun.
Following David Tennant’s return in the 60th anniversary, rising star Ncuti Gatwa will be the next actor to play the Doctor. It’s currently unknown if current Jodie Whittaker will regenerate into Gatwa or Tennant in her final episode.